How Much Does A Flight Attendant Make Per Flight?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The national average annual wage of a flight attendant is

$56,630

, according to the BLS, slightly more than the average annual salary for all occupations, $51,960. The average flight attendant salary can vary substantially from state to state.

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Do flight attendants earn per flight?

The average hourly base rate paid to a flight attendant with a major airline is

about $25-30

, and depends solely on his/her years of service with the company. … For flights that are longer than 243 miles, an additional 0.1 TFP is earned per 40 extra miles flown, rounded to the nearest 40.

Which airline has the highest paid flight attendants?

Average Annual Pay Additional Annual Pay
American

$43,460 $2,825
Delta Airlines $40,236 $6,400 Southwest Airlines $42,000 $4,800 United Airlines $44,219 $5,200

Are flight attendants paid hourly or salary?

Annual Salary Hourly Wage Top Earners $80,500 $39 75th Percentile $62,000 $30 Average $59,987

$29
25th Percentile $37,500 $18

How much does a flight attendant per hour?

How much does a Flight Attendant make hourly in the United States? The average hourly wage for a Flight Attendant in the United States is

$38

as of November 29, 2021, but the range typically falls between $31 and $47.

Is flight attendant a good job?

Is Flight Attendant a Good Career?

A flight attendant is a good career choice

. Both the benefits and possible dangers should be considered when making such an important decision. It is better to do the necessary research and know enough about it to be sure it is indeed what you want to do.

What are top paying jobs?

  1. Cardiologist. National average salary: $351,827 per year.
  2. Anesthesiologist. National average salary: $326,296 per year.
  3. Orthodontist. National average salary: $264,850 per year.
  4. Psychiatrist. National average salary: $224,577 per year.
  5. Surgeon. …
  6. Periodontist. …
  7. Physician. …
  8. Dentist.

How long is flight attendant school?

How long does it take to become a flight attendant? The training program for flight attendants is usually

three to six weeks

. However, it may take months or even years to get into one of these programs. This is a highly competitive field, and open positions usually fill up fast.

How often are flight attendants home?

Flight attendants frequently have

between 12 and 18 days off per month

and over a years time, average about 156 days off.

How much money does a flight attendant make a week?

A Flight Attendant in your area makes on average

$1,181 per week

, or $28 (2%) more than the national average weekly salary of $1,154. ranks number 1 out of 50 states nationwide for Flight Attendant salaries.

Do flight attendants work 40 hours a week?

Most attendants are usually limited to working 12 hours

shifts

but some are allowed to work 14 hour shifts. Those working on international flights are usually permitted to work longer shifts. Attendants usually spend 65-90 hours in the air and 50 hours preparing planes for passengers monthly.

Can you make a living being a flight attendant?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, flight attendants make an

average of $56,000 per year

. The position's pay can vary drastically, with the lowest 10% earning less than $28,000, and the highest 10% earning more than $80,000.

How much does a beginner flight attendant make?

The average entry-level flight attendant — with zero to five years of experience — makes

around $38,000

in total compensation, according to PayScale. The average salary for a late-career flight attendant is around $61,000.

Do flight attendants get paid biweekly?

Flight Attendants are

paid based

on the flights they work each month. They can choose to be paid monthly, or bi-weekly.

Is it hard to become a flight attendant?


It's difficult and can take a long time

. Airlines can take 3-6 months to get through the hiring process, that's if your resume makes it through the first cut. Intense Competition. We estimate there are 1 – 1.5 million flight attendant applications for 5,000 – 10,000 jobs.

What is the age limit for flight attendants?

Some airlines require you to be 19 or 20 when you apply, but none are allowed to make the requirement older than 21. Another common question we get is if you can become a flight attendant later in life. After all, it does seems like most flight attendants are young.

There is no maximum age to become a flight attendant

.

Do flight attendants get free housing?

Another awesome thing about being a flight attendant is free food and housing. … For flight attendants, meals and housing aren't something that they have to worry about since

most airlines already provide free housing to whatever city or destination they'

re currently based.

What is the highest paying job without college?

  • Commercial Pilots: $121,430.
  • Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers: $94,560.
  • First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: $91,090.
  • Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers: $85,950.
  • Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers: $84,990.

How much does flight attendant school cost?

The average cost of flight attendant school programs in 2019 is

$3,500 to $5,000

. Flight attendant schools can cost as little as a $1,000 and as much as $25,000 depending on how long they are and what is covered. Some will even require you to pay room and board since you'll be living near by as you train.

What is the lowest paying job?

  • Cooks. Cooks work in institutions ranging from cafeterias to fast-food chains to high-end restaurants. …
  • Shampooers. …
  • Fast-Food and Counter Workers. …
  • Hosts and Hostesses. …
  • Amusement and Recreation Attendants. …
  • Cashiers. …
  • Pressers of Textiles, Garments, and Related Materials. …
  • Gambling Dealers.

What jobs pay over 200k a year?

  • ​Anesthesiologist. Doctors who administer anesthesia earn a whopping $246,320, on average — the highest wage listed in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) database. …
  • ​Nurse anesthetist. …
  • ​Chief executive. …
  • ​Marketing manager. …
  • ​Computer and information systems manager. …
  • ​Optometrist. …
  • ​Orthodontist. …
  • ​Surgeon.

How tall do you have to be to be a flight attendant?

All United flight attendants must be at least 21 years old at the time of application and have a valid passport. Height-wise, attendants should be

between 5'2” and 6'3” without shoes

. They do not allow facial piercings or visible tattoos – even if concealed.

Can flight attendants have tattoos?

The airline's regulation

prohibits tattoos from being visible while in cabin crew uniform

, and cosmetic and bandage coverings aren't allowed. On assessment day for your flight attendant training, you should wear an outfit that's similar to the flight attendant uniform and follows the “no visible tattoo” policy.

How do I start a flight attendant career?

  1. Get a high school diploma. The minimum education requirement for flight attendants is a high school diploma.
  2. Earn a college degree. …
  3. Build customer service skills. …
  4. Apply for a job. …
  5. Train. …
  6. Get certified. …
  7. Complete reserve status. …
  8. Advance in your career.

Do pilots sleep with flight attendants?

Flight attendants and pilots get there own designated sleeping areas on long-haul flights. … While flight attendants are supposed to sleep on bunk beds in tiny crew rest areas,

pilots take rest in separate sleeping compartments

, where they can spend up to half of their time on a long flight.

Do flight attendants have free time?


Most airlines allow their flight attendants to fly for free during their off-time

and many allow guests to accompany them at free or reduced rates. Most of this travel is “stand by” and also based on a flight's occupancy, meaning a flight attendant can get bumped from the flight if it's full with paying customers.

What is a pilot's salary?

The median annual salary for the pilot of a large jet is an impressive

$121,408

. For a small jet, the median annual salary is $104,219. Non-jet aircraft pilots make significantly less. The pilot of a large non-jet aircraft earns a median annual salary of just $79,106.

Do flight attendants get paid for delays?

Flight attendants don't make a dime during any of that. They also

don't get paid during layovers or when flights get delayed

—so while you're agonizing about having to wait, flight attendants are too. They're paid hourly based on actual flying time.

What are the pros and cons of being a flight attendant?

Pros Cons You gain people and social skills The pay when you first start out is low, super low There's no routine, so you'll never get bored You are often on standby (on-call) You live wherever you want to (sort of) It's hard to have relationships

Do flight attendants get free food?

A common misconception about flight attendants is that they get reimbursed for meals. That'd be like your boss picking up the tab for your daily desk salad. Instead, most flight attendants get about $2 per hour of travel as a small per diem. Sure,

she could get free airplane food

, but, well, no thank you.

Do flight attendants get drug tested?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has strict drug and alcohol regulations. But your airline might have their own policies that you will have to follow too. All applicants must pass a pre-employment drug test and employees will have

to take random Department of Transportation (DOT) drug screenings

.

Should you tip a flight attendant?


Tipping flight attendants is not the norm

, partially because flight attendants are paid a living wage, unlike restaurant servers. Plus, many airlines ban the practice and flight attendants could get in trouble for accepting tips, if they're offered. However, some airlines leave it up to customers.

Do flight attendants have second jobs?

Flight attendants moonlight as lawyers, chefs, limo drivers, hairdressers, college professors, even firefighters. Among young, new-hire flight attendants,

restaurant server

and bartender are perhaps the most common second occupation.

What benefits do flight attendants get?

  • Free flights and travel opportunities. …
  • Flight benefits for family and friends. …
  • Flexible schedule. …
  • Opportunities to meet new people. …
  • Food expense reimbursement. …
  • Overnight hotel stays. …
  • Ability to self-direct. …
  • Health insurance.

Where do flight attendants stay?

They stay at what are

called “Crash Pad” hotel rooms

– which are like frats for flight crew. Many of the perks include cheap rent, as well as being near to the airport with free transfers, and the free house cleaning to avoid fighting over keeping the place clean.

Do flight attendants have to live where they are based?


You do not need to live on base

. Flight Attendants can live anywhere in the world, provided they can get to base for the start of their shift. CommutAir pays for parking. Commuting By Plane: You can commute by plane for free on United, however, you will fly STANDBY.

Can flight attendant buy a house?


Yes ! Even flight attendants eventually retire

and it's best to own your home outright prior to living on a fixed income. Your social security payments are never going to increase by much, but rental prices sure will. For the average person, regardless of their career, a home is still the best form of investment.

Is flight attendant a full time job?

Attendants typically fly 75 to 100 hours a month and usually spend another 50 hours a month on the ground, preparing flights, writing reports, and waiting for planes to arrive. They can spend several nights a week away from home. Most

work variable

schedules. Some flight attendants work part time.

Do flight attendants get paid once a month?

1 answer. Flight Attendants

get paid monthly

. Usually you will make around $1,600 a month.

How much do bilingual flight attendants make?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $105,000 and as low as $17,000, the majority of Bilingual Flight Attendant salaries currently range between

$29,500 (25th percentile) to $45,500 (75th percentile)

with top earners (90th percentile) making $78,000 annually across the United States.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.